No-spin links: Bias-free, fact-filled sites to research before you cast your vote

Monday

Oct 15, 2012 at 12:01 AM

In the weeks remaining until Election Day, you'll be barraged with half-truths, spin tactics and blatant lies when it comes to the presidential campaign and other races.

MICHAEL SADOWSKI

In the weeks remaining until Election Day, you'll be barraged with half-truths, spin tactics and blatant lies when it comes to the presidential campaign and other races.

But thanks to the Internet, you can dispel many of these rumors yourself with a little research and a point in the right direction.

Check out these websites for facts — not spin — on issues such as campaign contributions, who favors what issues and what lobbyists and special interest groups are donating to which causes and candidates:

Department of State

Web address: campaignfinanceonline.state.pa.us

What to use it for: State campaign finance reports for all candidates in Pennsylvania — from township supervisors to Gov. Tom Corbett. The search is a little balky and technical, but it's all there. You just have to know how to find it.

Cool thing you can easily find: Well, nothing is that easy to find. You have to play around with it, and be sure to use the "advanced search" option.

on Money in State Politics

Web address: followthemoney.org

What to use it for: A more streamlined, organized approach to what you get on the Department of State's website, just with spotty updating. Some candidates have 10 campaign finance reports included in their totals, others have five. Also includes what lobbyists spend, and who they give to.

Cool thing you can easily find: Although Corbett isn't up for re-election for two years, he's by far the biggest collector in Pennsylvania this year, taking in $2,758,326.

Web address: legistorm.com

What to use it for: Public money is public money, no matter how it's spent. That means the salaries for every staffer for every politician is public knowledge — and this is where you find them.

Search by candidate to find staff salaries and expense reports, including money spent on taxpayer-funded trips.

Cool thing you can easily find: The taxpayers of the 11th U.S. House District saved more than $200,000 in staff salaries in 2011. In Paul Kanjorski's last year in office, his staffers made $1,009,556. In 2011, his successor, U.S. Rep Lou Barletta, spent $788,475.

Web address: influenceexplorer.com

What to use it for: Quick references, because it's somewhat difficult to search and doesn't have a ton of links to off-site references. But it took one click to find out that Obama ($136,148,229) is out-collecting Romney ($123,745,301).

Cool thing you can easily find: Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., has $6,226,560 to spend on his campaign.

Web address: opensecrets.org

What to use it for: Run by the Center for Responsive Politics research group, the site provides much more news and analysis than many other political spending sites, including a blog updated daily. It includes contributions for every politician, plus lobbyist information.

Cool thing you can easily find: The blog headline on the front page that says, "Oil Industry Fuels Romney." You want to click on that. You know you do.

Web address: politwoops.sunlightfoundation.com

What to use it for: Fun, mostly. It's deleted Tweets from politicians across the country. It's only for federal offices though, not state offices.

Cool thing you can easily find: U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-4, has deleted three tweets in the last month — all related to sports.

Web address: votesmart.org

What to use it for: Proudly removed from the Beltway in Montana, the site prides itself on being non-partisan. Its best feature is its "VoteEasy" application that matches your personal issues with which candidate supports those issues the most.

Cool thing you can easily find: That according to VoteEasy, both Obama and Romney "lack courage."

Members of our Pocono Record Election Panel have their own favorite websites:

&byline;Will Landstrom, 56,

Democrat, Blakeslee

thomhartmann.com

"Thom Hartmann possesses an almost other-worldly depth of political knowledge that goes back before the American Revolution. And all factual, 100 percent clearly verifiable fact-based knowledge."

&byline;Norman Wahner, 78,

Independent, Pocono Lake

mullings.com (subscription required)

"Written by Rich Galen. He has an extensive background as a political consultant/resource giving us 'outsiders' a peek into the inner world of politics."

&byline;Jonathan Maula, 24,

Independent, Henryville

electorreject.com

"My brother and I have created a website called electorreject.com.

"The website was built so that you can basically type in your address and it would tell you who would be on your ballot. You would then be able to look at each candidate specifically and compare and contrast them. Lastly, you would be able to 'elect' or 'reject' each candidate and save your ballot so you could take it to the poll with you."